Alliance for HOPE International is one of the leading systems and social change organizations in the country focused on creating innovative, collaborative, trauma-informed, hope-centered approaches to meeting the needs of survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, and human trafficking. Our programs focus on increasing measurable Hope, Resiliency, Safety, and Well-Being in the lives of children and adults.
DomesticShelters.org exists to make more people aware of the support available for those experiencing domestic violence and make it faster and easier for victims of domestic violence and their friends/family, as well as program and shelter providers, to quickly find services and information best suited to their location, language, and needs. It was founded by and has operated as a program of Theresa’s Fund, an Arizona-based nonprofit organization, since 2014. The website provides helpful articles on domestic violence statistics, signs and cycles of abuse, housing services, emergency services, legal and financial services, support groups for women, children, and families, and more.
Domestic violence professionals rely on DomesticShelters.org for expert-led training, donation tools, and other resources to help them better serve their clients and communities. Click here for more information on domesticshelters.org.
The Reasons for the Merger
DomesticShelters.org became a program of Alliance for HOPE International as of May 1, 2023. The two organizations have identified tremendous benefits to survivors of domestic and sexual violence across the country and around the world, to professionals working in the fields of domestic and sexual violence, and to the programs and operations of the Alliance by completing this merger. The benefits and reasons for the merger include:
Shared Mission
The Alliance and Theresa’s Fund have aligned missions, values, and vision for increasing services and safety for survivors of domestic and sexual violence and their children.
Synergy
This merger will expand the growth and reach of domesticshelters.org (DS.org) to support survivors and professionals currently benefiting from the online services of DS.org.
Expansion
This merger will allow the Alliance to expand the growth and reach of its programs to benefit survivors and professionals currently affiliated with all Alliance programs.
Enhanced Analytics
The advanced analytics from DS.org will help guide the Alliance forward in its online outreach efforts to survivors and professionals in the years ahead.
Increased Safety
By coming together, there will be more access to the services of DS.org for survivors, which will mean fewer domestic violence homicides and greater choice-based services for survivors.
Greater Accountability
Greater accountability of professionals to meeting the needs of survivors through this merger will increase safety and increase offender accountability for abusers.
Research Potential
The potential for research on the needs of survivors and the way to meet those will be amplified through this merger.
Collaboration vs Competition
Coming together as one organization will promote and value collaboration over competition.
The Science of Hope
The merger will promote goal setting and pathways to hope and healing for survivors through the multiplied impact of both organizations.
Family Justice Center Services
DS.org, operating as a program of the Alliance will mean greater reach for Family Justice Center services and programs which will reduce domestic violence homicides and increase safety for adult and child survivors.
Camp HOPE America
This merger will provide more services for children and youth impacted by domestic violence and expand the opportunities for community-based shelters and domestic violence agencies to be part of Camp HOPE America.
Multi-Agency Collaboration
More shelters today are expanding their collaborative vision to become Family Justice Centers than ever before and this will make training and technical assistance for shelters and community-based organizations more easily accessible as they seek to expand multi-agency collaborations.
Increased Access
The merger will enhance the online community for survivors AND direct, in-person services for survivors in shelters and Family Justice Centers, thereby promoting a greater culture of hope and healing for adult and child survivors.
Shelter Engagement
This merger will engage more shelters in opportunities for more collaborative and wraparound services for survivors and thereby bolster the long-term sustainability of shelters and Family Justice Centers seeking to help survivors.
Training and Technical Assistance
This merger will provide a dramatically enhanced training and technical assistance program for shelters, Family Justice Centers, and other government and non-governmental organizations serving adult and child survivors.
For more information, contact Alliance President Casey Gwinn at casey@allianceforhope.com,
Alliance CEO Gael Strack at gael@allianceforhope.com, or
the National Director of DomesticShelters.org Ashley Rumschlag at ashley@domesticshelters.org
